The focus of this rally soon turned to getting residents to the polls. The stakes, Mitts said, are higher in this election year than ever before.

“We need to be turning out to vote. What’s so hard about that when we have two weeks to vote early,” she said of early voting that began on Feb. 29. “Tell me what excuse any persons have for not voting.”

Mitts cited her own ward as an example of the kind of apathy Democrats must avoid in the primary and the November general election.

While just over 31,000 people in the 37th Ward were registered to vote last year, only 8,478 voters cast a ballot in the February 2015 aldermanic and mayoral election, according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

And this year, as of March 6, 736 residents in the ward have voted early, according to the city election officials. In the neighboring 29th Ward, 922 voters have cast their votes. Citywide, about 47,500 people have voted early in all 50 wards.

The low turnout at last weekend’s voters rally was largely due to candidates attending other campaign events, Mitts said.

But a low turnout in next Tuesday’s primary, and in the general election, Mitts said, is something Democrats must avoid.

“While we’re asleep and not telling people how important it is to vote, just look at the number of Republicans voting now,” Mitts said, noting the record number of Republicans who’ve voted in presidential primaries nationwide since Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses Feb. 1.

“People are coming out who have never voted before on the Republican side, outnumbering the Democrats 2- even 3-to-1. That’s a sad case,” Mitts said.

Jackson, a former associate judge, ran for the post in the March 2014 primary but lost. She was appointed circuit court judge later that November after the death of Judge Anthony L. Burrell from cancer.

Jackson, a West Side native and Austin resident, said this election year is probably the most important she’s ever known.

The next president will likely have multiple Supreme Court vacancies to fill over a four- or eight-year term, Jackson said. With the recent death of Justice Antonin Scalia – and the nine-member court’s split between conservative and liberal justices – Jackson said the Supreme Court’s ideological makeup could shift dramatically.

“The next president is going to profoundly affect that body,” she said, noting affirmative action and voting rights among the issues the court will likely revisit.

“The question is: who do you want sitting on the bench up there deciding these very important questions?” Jackson asked. “If you want the Republicans to put somebody else up there like Scalia, don’t go vote. Keep talking this craziness that our vote don’t matter.”

Other candidates in attendance Saturday included, 8th Ward Ald. Michele A. Harris, who’s running for Circuit Court Clerk. Rosa Silva, who’s a Cook County public defender, and Chicago lawyer Jennifer Ballard are among six candidates vying for an open seat on the 7th Subcircuit Court.

Robert Zwolinski, a business owner from West Town, is running for the Illinois House’s 4th District seat.

Mitts also criticized Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, claiming Alvarez never reached out to the West Side after winning reelection four years ago, even after receiving endorsements from Mitts and other West Side Democrats.

Jackson also criticized the state’s attorney for taking so long to make an indictment in the Laquan McDonald case. Alvarez charged officer Jason Van Dyke more than a year after he shot to death the 17-year-old McDonald.

Jackson, who serves in the juvenile courts division, said she remembered McDonald coming through her courtroom.

“He was on my case docket at the time he got shot. I know what his problems were, but I know he was trying his best,” Jackson said. “He didn’t deserve what happened to him. Nobody deserves that.”

Several presidential candidates – or their supporters – have been stumping in Illinois in recent days. Tuesday, former President Bill Clinton stopped by MacArthur’s restaurant, X, to rally support for his wife and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The former president arrived at the Austin restaurant about 9:30 a.m. with U.S. Congressman Danny Davis, spending about 20 minutes taking pictures and signing autographs with diners, local pastors and the kitchen staff, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Voters can cast their votes before Tuesday’s primary at these West Side sites (find more sites citywide here):

State Sen.Kimberly Lightford, state Rep. La Shawn Ford and Ald. Emma Mitts shared their thoughts about how the Chicago City Council and Illinois General Assembly are addressing sexual harassment that they say has troubled female legislators, staffers and lobbyists for far too long.

Less than 100 residents of the 29th and 37th Wards have cast their ballots in the March 20 primary. Early voting can be done at a Downtown site through March 4, then at a few Austin locations starting March 5.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate and his running mate, state Rep. Juliana Stratton, opened a field office at 5847 W. Chicago Ave. earlier this month - where they highlighted their campaign priorities for West Side voters.

A day before the third anniversary of teenager Laquan McDonald being shot to death by a Chicago cop, members of the Central Austin Neighborhood Association and activists from Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR) demanded changes of the city's top law-enforcement officials.

Everyone running in the March 20 primary for Cook County assessor has been invited to the forum, which will be held at 11 a.m. March 3 at Sankofa, 5820 W. Chicago Ave. The Chicago Westside NAACP chapter organized the event.

About AustinTalks

The Austin community, home to nearly 100,000 people, is rich in diversity, culture and life. AustinTalks seeks to reflect this richness and provide residents of Chicago's most-populated neighborhood with news and information not available anywhere. Help us make this a meeting place that showcases all Austin has to offer. Share your tips and questions; we'll share your stories.

Recent Comments

“State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) issued this statement after Gov.-elect Rauner announced additional members of his transition team:…”